The International (2009) – on rental. Clive Owen is starting to present an almost unchanging look in all his most recent films: outside his role of the dandy in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, he looks unwashed, unshaven, unsmiling and like he hasn’t slept in days.
I really enjoyed his Shoot ‘em Up from 2 years ago, so was wondering if this film was going to be anything similar. Funnily, it’s anything but. The film is a thriller, and apart from a long gun battle scene in New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum late in the movie, is pretty light on violence but heavy on plot.
Owen is an Interpol agent on a life mission to expose the criminal activities of one international and large bank inspired by the real but now defunct Bank of Credit and Commerce International. Assisting him is Naomi Watts (loved her in King Kong and The Painted Veil), who plays a Manhattan-based Assistant DA. The bank in this film is involved in arms trading and terrorist funding, and is also in the practice of assassinating witnesses and investigators who get on its trail.
The film at times feels like it has an identity crisis about wanting to be either a Bourne or a Bond film. Our duo travels all across Europe, including Berlin, Istanbul, Italy and Luxembourg as they try to piece together clues at crime scenes, and reach key figures willing to testify or turn against the all powerful bank.
I’ve got mixed feelings about The International. The on location scenes or of their likeness are nicely done-up, especially the long scene at the Guggenheim Museum. But while the story’s semi-intelligent, the plot turns are all unfortunately too obvious. There’s no surprise when a couple of characters who’re obviously key to the investigation get off, nor when one of the bank’s key figures finally turns against the establishment. The film gets all the ticks in the checklist. Corrupt cops? Check. Super-cool sniper assassin? Check. Evil boss dressed in a suit? Check.
On balance, it’s an average watch I think, though you’re not especially missing anything if you give this one a pass.
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